The Lenzing Group is enhancing sustainable offerings for the denim industry with TENCEL™ branded modal fibres with Indigo Colour technology. The pioneering Indigo Colour technology behind this new market offering incorporates indigo pigment directly into TENCEL™ branded modal fibres using a one-step spun-dyeing process. This delivers superior colour fastness relative to conventional indigo dyeing whilst using substantially fewer resources. This innovative offering is awarded with the EU Ecolabel, a label of environmental excellence awarded to products meeting high environmental standards throughout their life cycle.
Development of Indigo Color technology to enhance denim sustainability
The denim industry’s demand for eco-responsible alternatives is growing rapidly, as brands and supply chain partners seek greater sustainability. Lenzing has been working closely with such partners to counteract environmentally harmful denim production processes via the botanic origin of its raw materials and responsible production processes.
Denim remains an important market for Lenzing, and the introduction of TENCEL™ Modal with Indigo Colour technology is designed to help reduce the ecological footprint of denim fabrics and garments. Produced in Austria, predominantly from beech wood derived from sustainably managed wood sources, this new offering has been designated BioPreferred® by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Indigo Color technology elevates production standards and significantly reduces waste
Indigo Colour technology builds upon the strong credentials of TENCEL™ Modal fibres with new benefits. Compared to conventional indigo dyeing, the colour retention of TENCEL™ Modal with Indigo Colour technology is superior through dry and wet crocking and rubbing. Despite resistance to home-laundry fading, wash-down effects for denim products can be achieved using commercial laundry techniques. TENCEL™ Modal fibres with Indigo Colour technology are inherently versatile and enable implementation in a range of multi-fibre blends.
Compared to water and energy intensive conventional indigo dyeing, this technology provides indigo coloration with substantial water, chemical and electricity savings, along with less wastewater produced, and no heat energy used. In addition, a specially commissioned indigo pigment from dyestuff manufacturer DyStar®, ensures that TENCEL™ Modal with Indigo Colour technology can be certified with STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®, guaranteeing ultra-low levels of aniline. Günther Widler, Head of Technology, Denim of DyStar® says, “This specially commissioned indigo pigment is based on more than a decade of our working experiences on Indigo Synthesis in Germany. Twenty-five years ago, we invented the most eco awarded DyStar® Indigo Vat 40% to meet the demand for sustainable manufacturing and production.”
